Journey of Hope 2016 | Page 24

t Selma, 18, is a teacher in training and worried about her future job prospects. Lately, there have not been many open positions for new teachers in the area. She still has some time left before she graduates and is ready to enter the workforce, but, like other students in the course, she is worried about making it to graduation. Just this year, 40 students had to drop out of the school due to lack of money. Selma comes from a poor family and the strain her schooling puts on her family’s income is daunting. What’s more, as the only girl in her village to go to school, Selma has to deal with some of the more close-minded people in her village taunting her for being educated. As a result, her father or brother escort her to and from class. Despite it all, she is determined to finish the course and become a teacher. 22 | JOURNEY OF HOPE CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE